Musical instrument



May 1, 1928.

A. N. IVANOFF MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Oct. 25, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1ATTORNEY fl W w May 1, 1928.

- A. N. lVANOFF MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Oct. 25, 1925 2 Sheets-Sneet 2H m I INVENTOR ATI'ORNEY WITNESS:

Patented May 1, 1928- ALEXANDER N. IYALIOFF, on NEW onx, n. Y.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Application filed October 23, 1925. Serial No. 64,430

This invention relates to musical instruments, and more particularly toa chromatic scale harp which comprises a standard harp structure whichis mounted in a horizontal position on a table structure, and hasextending across one end of said harp structure, a relatively narrowpiano-like keyboard control mechanism for operating a plurality ofstring dampers in a selective manner for controlling the sound emissionofsaid harp. Theobject of the invention is to provide combination harpand piano keyboard structure adapted to have soundedthereon, certainchords ina selective manner, making it possible to play a compositionconsisting of chords.

A further object of the invention is to provide a table mounted harpstructure with a keyboard operatingmechanism thereon for dampeningcertain strings in an octave for mation against sound emission, and apair of foot pedals depend from the underside of the top structure ofthe table, and are connected to said harp and keyboard mechanismfor'lifting all of the string dampers simultaneously or for silencingall the strings on the harp simultaneously, against sound emission. 7

Other objects of the invention will appear in the following detaildescription, and in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1-is atop plan of the combination harp and keyboard mechanismtherefor.

Figure 2-is a side elevational view of the instrument showing the footpedal mechanism.

Figure 3is a longitudinal section through the keyboard mechanism on theline 33 of Figure 1.

Figure tis, a cross section through the keyboard mechanism on the lineie-4: of Figure 1.

Figure '5is a section through the harp on the line 5-5 of Figure 1,showing the pedal operated silencing bar.

Figure 6is a vertical section on the line 6-6 of Figure 4, enlarged.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the invention'comprises thetable 1 havinga top structure 2 which is hollow and adapted to provide asound amplifying chamber 3. The harp at is secured to the top surface ofsaid top structure 2, inc, horizontal position and is secured by meansofthescrew 6 in the harp frame 7. The top structure 2 comprises the topand bottom boards 5 and 5, which are spaced in order to define the soundchamber 3. The top board 5 terminates short of one end of the topstructure, thereby causing an opening 5 to be formed, said framecovering all but the upper right hand corner of the top structure 2,there being provided in the said corner in the top surface thereof, aplurality of sound apertures 8 and so spaced" as to simulate a de; sign.At the extreme left end 9 of the harp structure 4, extending across thebridge head 9 thereof, is the piano key mechanism generally designatedas 10, said key mechanism comprising a rectangular frame 11 which ismade up of'the two, side members 12 and the two end members 13 which aresecured across the ends of the relatively long side members 12. Runningparallel with and spaced between the side members 12 are a plurality ofactuating bars 1 1, which are apertured ateach end thereof, and adaptedto be positioned on a plurality of studs 15 secured in the end framemembers 18 for slidable up and down movement thereon, said studs and aplurality of coil springs 16 being disposcd'on the lower part of saidstuds and under the actuating bars let-for returning the saidbars totheir normal position, said bars having depending from the undersidethereof, a set of four equally spaced contact pins 17 each of said bars1 1 being provided with four of said contact pins which are equallyspaced throughout the greater length of the bars 14, and each succeedingrow on the remaining bars are spaced ahead the distance of one pin fromthe first pin on the first bar, as indicated at A, thereby presenting astaggered formation and said pin formation adapted to provideprogressive contact with forty-eight damper fingers, indicated at 18,said damper fingers being disposed at right angles to the bars 14, andare pivoted intermediate their ends to spring influenced hinge brackets19, which are in turn fixedlyv secured to the side face 20 of the innerside member 12, each of said damper fingers, 18 having the undersurfaceof their contact heads 21 faced with felt padding for silent contactwith a like number of strings disposed on said harp.

Adjacent to one end of the key. mechanism and projecting upwardly fromthe side frame members 12, are two upstanding ears 22 adapted to holdrigidly a key-retaining cross bar 23. Said bar adapted for effecting abearing in the V-grooves 2 which are provided one on the upper 'face ofeach key adjacent the rear end thereof, and provides the pivotal pointfor the downward and upward movement of each key. The underside of theoffset heads 26 of the keys 25 present an arcuate surface 27 for contacton the key supporting cross member 28 which extends across theundersides of the side frame members 12. Said cross member 28 having aplurality of upstandin pins 29 secured therein for passage through theclearance apertures 30, provided in the offset heads 26 of the keys 25.Said pins 29 adapted to retain the keys 25. in alignment with the bars14, and to limit the downward movementof said keys. 7

. Adjacent to the front or operating end of the white keys 25, on theunderside thereof, are a plurality of apertures, 31, one in each key andsaid apertures adapted to slidably receive a like number of relativelyshort upstanding alignment studs 32, said studs being rigidly secured inthe upperor padded face of the blocks 38 whichare secured on the top 3surface of the actuating bars 14, and parallel therewith. The black keys34 which are disposed between the white keys 25 in the usual order,aresimilarly constructed, and positioned centrally over the respectiveactuating bars for said black keys 34, and the pivoted ends 35 of saidkeys 34 also have a vertical aperture 36 through the ends 37 for passagetherethrough of similar alignment pins 38, with the exception that they2 are placed to the right side of the retaining cross bar 23, asindicated at B. V

The alignment pins29 for the white keys 25, are placed tothe left ofsaid cross bar 23, asindicated at C. This is necessary for the reasonthat the black keys 34 are shorter in length than the white keys 25, andconsequently, have a. shorter leverage. The first one of the actuatingbars 14 which is indicated by the numeral 39, has no contact posts orkey provided therefor, but has instead, an auxiliary bar 40, paralleltherewith, and se cured adjacent to the underside of the first bar 39,for simultaneous contact with all of the damper fingers l8. Said bar 39being connected by the pivoted rods 41 which terminate at the end of oneof the pedals 42, said pedal adapted, to raise all of the damp erfingers 18 simultaneously. The remaining pedal 43 secured to the support44 therefor, actuates the silencer bar 45, which is connected to saidpedal by means of a pivoted rod 46, said silencer bar being faced withfelt, and adapted. to silence all ofthe harp strings 47, simultaneouslywhen pressure is applied to said pedal. The entire key mechanism and thecarrying frame therefor, is of such proportion, as to fit snugly on theharp frame and is held secure by a pair of screw points, and hooks 48,and a suitable ornamental cover 49 is provided to ed to raise the fourspaced intervals of the damper fingers 18, it will be readily seen bythose learned in the art, that any chord or combination thereof, may besounded upon the instrument. i

It is, of course, to be understood, that the invention may beconstructed in various other manners, and the parts associated indifferent relations, and therefore, I do not desire to be limited in anymanner, except as set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a chromatic scale harp, of a supporting standtherefor, said supporting stand including an amplifying sound chamberformed therein, a keyboard operated control mechanism disposed on theharp frame and over the strings of said harp, pedal means for silencingall of the harp strings simultaneously, a plurality of damper fingersprovided strings and actuated by the keys on said keyboard for raisingand lowering a predetermined number of said damper fingers, and pedalmeans for raising all of said damper fingers simultaneously.

2. The combination with a chromatic scale harp, of a supporting standtherefor,

said supporting stand includin an amplifying sound chamber formedtherein, a sound control mechanism disposed on the harp frame and overthe strings thereof, a control keyboard embodied in said mechanism, aplurality of damper fingers controlled by said keyboard, each keycomprising said keyboard, adapted forraising and lowering apredetermined number of said damper fingers, pedal means for raising allof said damper fingers simultaneously, and a single for said harp damperbar for silencing all of the harp strings simultaneously. 7 V

8. The combination with a chromatic scale harp, of a supporting standtherefor,

said stand including an amplifying cham- 7 her formed therein, akeyboard control, a damper frame, said mechanism comprising a pluralityof actuated bars, a plurality of damper fingers for co-operative actionwith a series of piano keys comprising said keyboard control in aselective manner, a pair of foot pedals disposed downwardly from theunderside of said stand, means for conmechanism disposed on the harp vnecting one of said pedals with one of the actuating bars forsimultaneously raising and lowering all of the damper fingers, and thesecond pedal adapted for silencing simultaneously all of the harpstrings.

4E. The combination with a chromatic scale harp, of a supporting standtherefor, said stand including an amplifying sound chamber formedtherein, a keyboard 03erated damper mechanism disposed in a horizontalposition on the harp frame and over the strings of said harp, saidmechanism comprising aframe, a plurality of actuating bars movablysecured in said frame and parallel with the sides of said frame havingthe greatest length, a plurality of piano keys pivoted and disposed incentral alignment over said actuating bars for effecting contact withsaid bars, a plurality of damper lingers disposed at right angles tosaid actuating bars, and pivoted adjacent to the contact ends of saiddamper lingers to the inner side member of said frame, a singlesilencing bar, pedal means for actuating said bar, and pedal means foractuating all of the damper fingers simultaneously.

5. The combination with a chromatic scale harp, of a supporting stanttherefor, said stand including an amplifying sound chamber formedtherein, a keyboard operated damper mechanism disposed in a horizontalposition on the harp frame and over the strings of said harp, saidmechanism comprising a frame, a plurality of actuating bars movablysecured in said frame and parallel with the sides of said frame havingthe greatest length, aplurality of piano keys pivoted and disposed incentral alignment over said actuating bars for effecting contact withsaid bars, a plurality of damper lingers disposed at right angles tosaid actuating bars and pivoted adjacent to the contact ends of saiddamper fingers to the inner side member of said frame, a singlesilencing bar, pedal means for actuating said bar, pedal means foractuating all of the damper fingers simultaneously, a cover for completekeyboard control mechanism, said cover apertured to expose the keysonly, and means for securing said cover and mechanism.

In a musical instrument, a stand comprising a top structure and an undersupporting structure, said top structure having upper and lowervibrating boards spaced to delining a sound amplifying chambertherebetween, the upper board tern'iinating short of one end of the topstructure and thereby causing an opening to be formed, a chromatic scaleharp secured to the top board with its strings spaced from the board, asound control mechanism on one end of the top structure and over thestrings of the harp and provided with a control keyboard for actuatingelements of the sound control mechanism for raising or silencing tiretone caused by the vibat-ion of the strings.

7. In a musical instrument, the combination with a top structure and anunder sup porting structure therefor, said top structure having top andbottom boards spaced to define a sound chamber, the top boardterminating short of one end of the top structure causing an opening tobe formed, of a. chromatic scale harp secured on the top board with itsstrings spaced from said top board, a sound control mechanism embodyinga control keyboard at one end of the top structure and over the stringsof the harp, said sound control mechanism having a plurality of damperfingers, with means for actuating them toward and from the strings forsilencing and raising the tone emanating from the strings.

in testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

ALEXANDER N. IVANOFF.

